Eric Cumming

Eric Cumming
Personal information
Full name Eric James Cumming
Born (1923-12-23)23 December 1923
Alexandra, Victoria
Died 23 February 1964(1964-02-23) (aged 40)[1]
Ballarat, Victoria
Original team Acheron Valley[2]
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1948–49 Footscray 14 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1949.
Career highlights
  • 1947 Upper Gouburn FL Premiership: Acheron Valley FC
  • 1947 - Acheron Valley FC: best & fairest[3]
  • 1947 - Leongatha Gift[4]
  • 1948 - Stawell Axeman's Gift[5]
  • 1948 - Maribynong Gift[6]
  • 1948, 49, 50 & 51 - Benalla Gift
  • 1948 & 1951 Whorouly Gift[7]
  • 1950 - Horsham Gift[8]
  • 1951 - Footscray Gift[9]
  • 1952 - Powderhall Gift
  • 1952 - Burnie Gift[10]
  • 1952 - Burramine Gift[11][12]
  • 1952 - Molyullah Gift[13]
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Eric James Cumming (23 December 1923 – 23 February 1964) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and a professional sprinter during the late 1940s and early 1950's.

Family

The son of Eric James Cumming (1890–1955),[14] and Eleanor Jane "Ella" Cumming (1894–1986), née McKenzie,[15] Eric James Cumming was born at Alexandra, Victoria on 23 December 1923.

He married Isabelle Woolley (1927–2015) on 19 June 1954.[16]

Military service

Prior to his sporting exploits, Cumming enlisted in the Second AIF as a 19 year old in 1943, serving until the end of World War II in 1946.[17]

Football

In 1946, Cumming caught the attention of Essendon[18] and trained with them in late April 1946.[19] Cumming played in Acheron Valley's 1947 Upper Goulburn Football League premiership win against Thornton[20][21][22] prior to playing with Footscray.

Cumming spent two seasons at Footscray, who were captain-coached by Arthur Olliver. He played eight games in the 1948 VFL season, including a Semi Final, which Footscray lost to Collingwood.

He played in six games in 1949, kicking his only career goals (two) in the match against Fitzroy, at the Brunswick Street Oval, on 21 May 1949. He sustained a serious thigh injury in the match against Collingwood, at Victoria Park, on 20 August 1949; he did not play football again.

During his time at Footscray, Cumming was also studying at Melbourne University's Dookie College campus.[23]

Professional athletics

A professional sprinter, Cumming won the Whorouly Gift in 1948[24] and 1951.[25]

Cumming won four consecutive Benalla Gifts between 1948 and 1951.[26]

In a four week period in February 1951, Cumming won four consecutive gifts, winning at Footscray, Whorouly, Seymour and Benalla.[27]

Cumming competed in the Powderhall Gift Scotland in 1951 and 1952[28] and in 1951 Cumming (off 2 yards) was just beaten by an inch by eventual winner, Geoff Harrington (off 7.5 yards) in the semi final.[29]

Cumming left Australia by ship in April 1951[30] to prepare for the 1952 Powderhall Gift and he became the first and only Australian to win the prestigious New Year Sprint at Powderhall Scotland.[31] With a handicap of two yards, Cumming won the 130 yard race in 12.19 seconds, becoming the first overseas athlete to win the famous race.[32][33]

1951 Powderhall Gift winner, Geoff Harrington stated in an article in 2015, that Eric Cumming was the greatest sprinter he had ever seen up until Usain Bolt arrived on the world running circuit in the early 2000's.[34]

He also regularly competed in the Stawell Gift and finished second in 1946, behind Tommy Deane[35] after being one of the pre race favourites.[36]

In September 1952, Cumming won the Sheaf toss at the Melbourne Show.[37]

Death

He died 'suddenly' at Ballarat on 23 February 1964, aged 40 years old[38] after a caber toss at a Highland gathering.[39]

Recognition

In recognition of his contribution to professional running,[40] the Stawell Athletic Club awards the most successful sprinter over 70 m, 120 m, and 200 m, at its Stawell Gift carnival, the Eric Cumming trophy.

Footnotes

  1. ^ "1964 - Death Notices". The Age. 25 February 1964. p. 14. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  2. ^ "1948 - ACHERON VALLEY FOOTBALL TEAM CELEBRATES". Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1908 - 1949). 17 September 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  3. ^ "1947 - Presentation Night". Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1908 - 1949). 5 December 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  4. ^ "1947 - Eric Cumming Wins Gift At Leongatha". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 17 March 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  5. ^ "1948 - Sport news in brief: Athletics". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956). 9 February 1948. p. 16. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  6. ^ "1948 - Maribyrnong Sprint To Eric Cumming". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956). 11 February 1948. p. 15. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  7. ^ "1951 - Cumming's Double at Whorouly". Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW : 1934 - 1935; 1938 - 1954). 12 February 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  8. ^ "1950 - CUMMING WINS GIFT; GETS TREBLE". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 4 April 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  9. ^ "1951 - Cumming has first-up win in Gift". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 3 February 1951. p. 15. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  10. ^ "1952 - Gumming's Feat Darwin Gift". Saturday Evening Express (Launceston, Tas. : 1924 - 1954). 8 March 1952. p. 6. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  11. ^ "1952 - CUMMING WINS BURRAMINE". Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW : 1934 - 1935; 1938 - 1954). 17 March 1952. p. 18. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  12. ^ "1952 - CONGRATULATED". Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW : 1934 - 1935; 1938 - 1954). 19 March 1952. p. 20. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  13. ^ "1952 - BRILLIANT RUN BY ERIC CUMMING AT MOLYULLAH". Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954). 17 April 1952. p. 9. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  14. ^ Deaths: Cumming, The Argus, (Tuesday, 15 March 1955), p.13.
  15. ^ Deaths: Cumming, The Age, (Tuesday, 25 March 1986), p.51.
  16. ^ Talkabout, The Argus, (Saturday, 19 June 1954), p.13.
  17. ^ Nominal Roll.
  18. ^ "1946 - GOSSIP FROM LEAGUE CLUBS". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956). 26 April 1946. p. 25. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  19. ^ "1946 - E. CUMMING: May Play With Essendon". The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 22 April 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  20. ^ "1947 - UPPER GOULBURN LEAGUE: ACHERON VALLEY PREMIERS". Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1908 - 1949). 5 September 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  21. ^ "1947 - Final Match. Acheron Valley v. Marysville". Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1908 - 1949). 29 August 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  22. ^ "1947 - THORNTON DEFEAT ACHERON VALLEY". Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1908 - 1949). 22 August 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  23. ^ "1949 - Victorian Teams To Go By Plane". The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954). 6 July 1949. p. 19. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  24. ^ "1948 - WHOROULY GIFT TO CUMMING". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956). 22 March 1948. p. 13. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  25. ^ "1951 - Cumming wins Whorouly Gift". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 12 February 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  26. ^ "1951 - Benalla Hospital Carnival ERIC CUMMING WINS GIFT AND SPRINT". Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954). 1 March 1951. p. 9. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  27. ^ "1951 - RECORD BID IN GIFT". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 28 February 1951. p. 16. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  28. ^ "1950 - Cumming to race in English gift". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 17 November 1950. p. 15. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  29. ^ "1950 - Unlucky To Lose The Powderhall". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954). 24 February 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  30. ^ "1951 - Cumming to run in English match races". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956). 4 April 1951. p. 18. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  31. ^ "1952 - CUMMING WINS POWDERHALL". The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955). 3 January 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  32. ^ "1952 - ERIC CUMMING RETURNING HOME". Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954). 12 January 1952. p. 6. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  33. ^ "1952 - VICTORIAN'S BRILLIANT BRITISH SPRINT WIN". The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954). 3 January 1952. p. 26. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  34. ^ "2015 - Ninety years, a true Brownhills sportsman". BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  35. ^ "1946 - BRILLIANT WIN BY DEANE IN STAWELL GIFT". Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954). 23 April 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  36. ^ "1946 - E. CUMMING IMPRESSIVE IN STAWEEL GIFT TEST". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956). 20 April 1946. p. 13. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  37. ^ "1952 - CHAMPION RUNNER SCORES AGAIN". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956). 27 September 1952. p. 12. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  38. ^ Deaths: Cumming, The Age, (Tuesday, 25 February 1964), p.14.
  39. ^ "1964 - Powderhall regains New Year sprint". The Glasgow Herald. 14 November 1964. p. 5. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  40. ^ Knox, Ken, "A Cumming to go one place better", The Age, (Monday, 15 April 1974), p.19.

References

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